I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Weekend Linkee-poo is a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich, with arsenic sauce

Phil Plait shares his most beautiful astronomical images from 2012. 'Nough said. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Ninety-nine life hack. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

Want some more space stuff, here's a radiolab episode on space. Yes, you'll have to listen to the audio. I recommend the part where they interview Neil deGrasse Tyson. You know, in case you're starting to get a big head about anything. (Hint, it's all about our perspective of the universe, always attempting to place us in the center and finding out we're wrong, not to mention that now with Dark Matter, while we may be made of star dust, we aren't made from what comprises 94% of the universe). "Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving, and revolving at 900 miles an hour…"

Remember when I said that for science, until it's observed and documented it's not real? Well, after decades of anecdotal evidence, science has now observed chemo brain. Now it just needs to permeate through the medical literature and doctors will finally stop telling people it's all in their head. Plus, as you may have heard, half of what you know is wrong, or will be proved wrong eventually. I remember a high-school-aged son of a friend who remarked how he didn't really pay attention in class because, "half of what they teach you are lies." As I responded then, "That may be true, but have you figured out which half?" Or as my A&P prof said, "Medicine, the best lies we know." Of course the problem is we still haven't figured out which half. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

There are parts of the world that are riddled with land mines, such as Afghanistan. The 'Stan is littered with mines dating back to the Soviet Occupation and endless tribal wars that raged after the withdraw of Soviet forces. We've tried lots of things to clear the mine fields including training rats to find explosives. But here's an idea that would work fairly well in Afghanistan. That's a "sculpture" sort of like a metallic tumbleweed. The idea is the wind will blow it across areas that we know are mind and it will eventually trigger most of the mines in the area. Or it'll lose enough limbs that it'll need replaced. I'm not sure it's entirely effective, but if you have the time and the wind, it'll do the job. Beats having kids lose arms, legs, and life because they found something shiny in the dirt. Now if we could make something similar that would work in Vietnam/Cambodia. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)

The Slactivist with a link post about how the GOP continues to reach out to minorities, seniors, women, and all the other demographics they lost. It's called irony. I just thought I point that out because after reading those links I don't believe anyone knows what irony is anymore. Links include stories about how Florida Republicans are now admitting their election laws were designed to disenfranchise the young, the old, and the poor by making it harder for them to cast a vote. A NJ congressman who is going to vote against aid for Storm Sandy that would help their own constituents. So much for "compassionate conservatism." The continuing battle over a UN treaty covering discrimination based largely on our own ADA laws, and without any real enforcement provisions. Because, I don't know, the UN/Black Helicopters/FEMA Reeducation Camps or something. Also, the emerging post-election consensus is the GOP didn't clap hard enough. So Tinker Bell lay on the floor.

Cancer screening rates are dropping. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the increase in copays and reduced coverage for preventive medicine. I wonder if we'll see that as a "healthy choices" campaign for employment wellness programs. Probably not since there isn't any Tobacco Settlement Money in it (where there is for smoking cessation programs). (Grokked from Jay Lake)

It's a good thing in the wake of the Newton Shootings we aren't focusing on our gun crazed society, but instead on kids doodling in their notebooks. Okay, sure, it was the doodle and that he had "electronics" and "chemicals" at home that might have been, possibly, used to make a bomb. Let's see, I have electronics in various pieces and chemicals that I could, possibly, make into an explosive (albeit a low-yield, not much more than a pop, although a gas weapon, yeah, I've got those, and so does probably everybody else that cleans their own house) in my house and, ZOMG! I doodle on the edges of my notes in class! Oh noes! Hint to local police everywhere, most high schoolers who dabble in explosive neither use electronics nor "chemicals", most go for the good, old fashioned black powder pipe bombs. (Grokked from Neil Gaiman)

Then again, instead of tagging people who like to spout anti-government sentiments and also brandish weapons as terrorists, our government would rather tag peaceful movements like Occupy as terrorists. I feel so much safer now, don't you? (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Tweet of my heart: @nickbilton: Going to Facebook has become the equivalent of opening the fridge & staring inside, even though you're not hungry.

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